The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Northern Mindanao (EMB-DENR 10) has issued a show cause order against the city government of Cagayan de Oro after learning that part of the city’s sanitary landfill has no high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner.

HDPE liner is a plastic sheet that prevents leachate leakage from wastes, which may contaminate the source of water.

Aside from this, the water treatment facility has also not been working, as found during inspection on August 7, 2024.

These are alleged violations of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).

The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) said the city government has already responded to the show cause order.

“Gihimo to siya tungod kay ang cell number wala pa nahuman kay ang budget for cell number karon naman sa panahon ni Mayor Klarex… daghan proseso and then ang katong giyabo sa kilid nga walay liner aron maka-access ang equipment nga gabuhat sa cell 3,” CLENRO Head, Engr. Armen Cuenca, said.

DENR-10 also issued a cease and desist order against the operation at the area where there is no HDPE liner.

“December 12 ato na giundang ang pagbutang sa maong location. The contractor assured us nga before March 31 ila na mabayran ang obligation sa MORESCO kay sila man naglinya kami sa CLENRO wala mi mahimo kung walay kuryente pero amo paningkamutan nga bisan ug wala pa ang kuryente dili mapuno atong leachate pond among i-recirculate,” Cuenca added.